Qumra Film Fest Goes Digital Amidst Regional Conflict

The Doha Film Institute's Qumra incubator has shifted its 2026 edition entirely online, adapting to the ongoing U.S.-Israel-Iran war. This digital transformation allows the event to proceed from March 27 to April 8, showcasing 49 projects from 39 countries.

Attendees can expect to see a diverse selection of films, including features in their final production stages. Among them are Karim Kassem's "Pipes," Qiu Jiongjiong's "Fuxi: Joy In Four Chapters," Jairo Boisier Olave's "Radiesthesia," and Bernard Auguste Kouemo Yanghu's "House of the Wind."

Completed documentaries will also be presented. These include Mohanad Yaqubi's "Revolutionaries Never Die," Tala Hadid's "Bardi," and Hamad Salem Al-Hajri's "When The News Breaks You." Qumra, meaning "camera" in Arabic, combines creative workshops, co-production markets, and festival elements.

This year's virtual format follows a successful previous edition where Hasan Hadi's "The President's Cake" achieved significant acclaim, winning the Cannes' Caméra d'Or and receiving an Academy Award shortlist nomination. The event originally planned to host industry professionals and notable figures like Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal in Doha.